THE SPONGE FISHEEY OF FLORIDA IN 1900. 



167 



increase is accounted for ])y the fact that the high prices prevailing- 

 for sheepswool sponges has caused nian}^ people to use yellow sponges 

 in their stead for certain purposes. The general average for all kinds 

 is also the highest for the period under question. 



In the percentage table, while the average catch of sheepswool has 

 been decreasing the average value has remained about the same. In 

 1900 the average value of j-ellow sponges is the highest of any previous 

 3'ear. The grass sponges show an increase in the average quantity 

 over all other years, except 1897, which was an exceptional year for 

 this kind. 



Table showing, hy places, the-yield of the s])otige fishery for a number of years. 



T<iUe Klioiriiuj, hij kinds, the yield of the sponge fishery for 1895, 1896, 1897, 1899, and 1900. 



Kinds. 



Lbs. Value. 



Sheepswool \ 231, 272 



Yellow I 29,509 



Grass 21,387 



other 23,952 



Total i 306,120 



S363, 107 



11,798 



5,464 



6,502 



386,871 



1896. 



Lbs. Value. 



149, 724 

 23, 655 

 44, 617 

 18, 315 



236, 311 



^248, 196 

 9,318 

 11,508 

 3,990 



273, 012 



1897. 



Lbs. Value. 



157, 476 $240, 599 

 32,3621 13,082 



128, 622 29, 188 

 13,086 3,171 



Lbs. Value. 



153, 700 

 55, 800 

 76, 900 

 18,000 



1900. 



Lbs. Value. 



$332,390 181,311 

 16,205i 74,466 

 14,319: 143,112 

 5, 000 19, 236 



331,546 286,040 304,400 367,914 418,125 



$483, 263 

 44,045 

 33, 263 



7, 114 



567, 685 



Table shoirincj, by kinds, the acevage price per j^ound for a series of years. 



Table sJioving the relative importance of the different kinds of sponges in percentages of the 

 total quantity and value of the crop for a series of years. 



